Abstract

Nanoscale processings such as deformation, cutting off, and bonding of individual carbon nanotubes (NTs) have been selectively performed using a dual-nanomanipulation system installed in a high-resolution transmission electron microscope. These processes are directly observed in situ at a lattice resolution of 0.1 nm. At high applied electric field between the NT tip and Au tip, we have found a carbonmonolayer extending out from the carbon cluster which was deposited on the NT tip. The cutting off and bonding of individual NT tips can be performed by contacting the NT tips and the opposite nanometer-sized tips at an applied bias voltage. The threshold voltage of the processing is approximately 2 V.